Baylen Linnekin on the Fizzy Math Behind Bloomberg's Soda Ban
On Tuesday the New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene will hold a public hearing on Mayor Bloomberg's proposal to ban the sale in the city of sweetened beverages greater than 16 ounces. The ban would impact drinks containing sugar or any other "caloric sweetener," which could include everything from a 20 ounce bottle of soda sold by a food truck or cart to a soda sweetened with high fructose corn syrup sold by a fast food restaurant to an iced tea sweetened with honey sold by a baseball-park vendor. As Baylen Linnekin explains, not only does the proposed ban restrict food freedom of choice, it also rests on bad assumptions and fizzy math.